The Sky Tonight: 28 April 17 / waxing crescent

Deep overcast last night, no chance for any observation of that whisper thin crescent, but tonight promises to be clear with good seeing across the valley, the air scrubbed clean by last night's rain.

Look for the crescent moon just a little north of west, about 15° above the horizon as night falls, 9:15 to 9:30ish. As it darkens, Mars will show, a ruddy colored star just to the right, close with the Pleiades, the beautiful Taurus open star cluster showing 5 or 6 faint blue stars, naked eye - depending on your eyesight. It's a lovely sight through binoculars if you have a chance. Because of it's position just off the ecliptic it's often close with the moon or planets, and tonight's grouping is with Mars and the crescent moon especially close and beautiful. Have a look. Take your dog for a walk or go out with your spouse and pretend it's high school.

The V shaped group of stars is the Hyades cluster, and the tightly grouped jewel box to the right, the Pleiades. The belt stars or Orion show left, at the edge of the frame. The bright object below the Pleiades is Venus. Tonight's view will be similar... with the moon and Mars positioned center. This image from Eileen Claffy via EarthSky.org.

Across the sky, rising east, brilliant Jupiter continues its slow movement through the Virgo constellation. The star below is Spica; above, Porrima and fainter ZaviJava. Saturn rises with Scorpius around midnight.

The moon will show higher in the sky at nightfall on Saturday – at 18% or so amid stars of Orion (at the upraised sword) and higher still on Sunday, in the embrace of Gemini, about a 27% crescent.

Comments

Leave a comment

Just Because

The night sky print which arrives for no particular reason, other than to celebrate the gift of love that is your beloved, is cherished like no other.

Birthdays

Each of us has a story that begins in a single moment. Poets and philosophers from Shakespeare to Tennyson, from Moore to Jung, share a common fascination with the night sky at the moment of birth, and the idea that the moon and stars stand in timeless, silent witness to this moment.

Wedding Anniversaries

The night sky print, showing the moon and stars just as they appeared on the night you met, the moment of your first kiss, or your wedding night, is an exceptional anniversary gift. Appropriate for any year, especially so for the 1st anniversary, the year of the ‘paper’ gift.

New Baby

The night sky print, showing the moon and stars just as they appeared on the child’s first starry night, with your words – funny, wise, sweet, hopeful, perhaps a favorite quote from a story or song – makes a beautiful keepsake.